by Nathaniel Grainger
Online gaming is not a new thing in New Zealand. Slot machines commonly known as “pokies” were first introduced in Kiwiland in the late ’80s, as the first of several electronic gaming products available to players in the country. As a paradox, contrary to the world’s perception of this entertaining activity in NZ due to gaming movies displayed in New Zealand Cinema, there are just six physical gaming venues in the country with the first licensed operator being Christchurch in 1994. Since then, five others have joined the train, even though SkyCity Wharf is currently not operational due to licensing issues.
Casino Gambling and New Zealand Cinema
Kiwis love gambling and take the activities seriously. However, the way gambling is portrayed through movies parallels the reality of the activity on the ground. Join onlinecasinonewzealand.nz to explore the full scope of everything there is to know about NZ Casino gambling. In the 1970s and 1980s, New Zealand films like Sleeping Dogs and Goodbye Pork Pie, which emphasised social and cultural topics over gambling, started to receive international attention. Still, international films that have been well-received in New Zealand have tackled themes related to gambling and casinos. Casino Royale and Ocean’s Eleven, which have had a lot of popularity in New Zealand, are two noteworthy films with gambling scenes that have made a big impact in Kiwiland.
These movies and their ilk have in many ways contributed to the knowledge and perception of what gambling at casinos represents. Nevertheless, some things have to be clarified, because it does not matter whether you’re a fan of online casinos or prefer the real-life experience of playing at a brick-and-mortar establishment, casino movies have tendencies to sometimes exaggerate or underestimate certain aspects of gambling which may result in hyperbolic expectations on rewards, fame or some glory attributed to casinos. The glamour and seduction of easy money often depicted in some casino movies, like Todd Phillips’ The Hangover are hyperbolic. Some of the major ideas portrayed in cinema try to show gamblers as always in debt and addicted and that casinos are shrouded in mystery and secrecy. These New Zealand cinema concepts are further explained in the following summary:
Gamblers Are Always in Debt & Addiction: The Gamber
Movies like The Gambler portray gambling as an activity that always leads to addiction and debt. The Gambler stars Mark Wahlberg as a literature professor with a gambling addiction, exploring the darker side of gambling. The movie explores how the lead character struggles with debt and tries to maintain his double life. The fact is that according to New Zealand’s Ministry of Social Development, the rate of gambling-related issues such as addiction and debt is at 1%. This means gambling is not as addictive to Kiwis as is depicted by cinema. Reports from statista.com show that Australia topped a list of nations with the largest gambling losses in the world in 2017 with an average loss of 958 US dollars per adult.
Gambling Revolves Around Mystery and Secrecy: Molly’s Game
In Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game, gambling is shown as a clandestine activity that frequently occurs in illegal environments. The film stars Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom, a former skier who delves into uncharted gambling regions and becomes the brain behind an underground high-stakes poker club. She eventually catches the attention of the FBI, gets apprehended, and is tried in court. Running a casino in New Zealand demands a lot regarding regulation and licensing. As there are just five operational physical casinos Kiwis can gamble at in the country, it is easier for the government to monitor them. The mystery and secrecy shown in Molly’s Game pale given what goes on in Kiwiland.
Gambling involves skill and strategy, riches and glory: Casino Royale
Casino Royale is the genius creation of Martin Campell, an elite New Zealand movie director. The film stars Daniel Craig who plays James Bond, a British MI6 agent licensed to kill. His mission is to investigate a bomb maker in Madagascar, but he stumbles on Le Chiffre’s terrorist cell and gets reassigned to defeat him in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale. In Casino Royale, a picture of luxury and ecstasy is painted, to portray some glittering world of high-stakes gaming. Scenes from the movie include players in tuxedos battling it out in a lavish casino setting while millions of dollars are exchanged. The average player goes to a casino for simple entertainment, most times with a predetermined budget to be spent. The idea that the activity is reserved only for the rich or leads to garnering huge amounts of money alongside fame is nothing but exaggerated.
How Casinos Operate In New Zealand
Despite the depiction of gambling in New Zealand Cinema, the reality appears to be way different from the movies. Gambling in New Zealand is controlled by the Department of Internal Affairs, and all public gambling is mandated to return some portion of their profits to the community. The strict application of these laws makes it unlikely for casinos to thrive in the way the mentioned movies depict. To obtain a casino license, entrepreneurs in the gambling industry must adhere to extremely stringent regulations. You should be able to pay the licensing costs and meet all the requirements to operate a gambling enterprise. You also have to abide by regulations designed to stop money laundering, problem gambling, and cheating. To run a casino in the nation, you have to be an extremely skilled businessperson. It is not surprising that the nation has so few physical casinos.
